Best Socket A Heatsink...

[Insane3D]

I am building a new 1.2ghz TBird system with a KT133A mobo. I plan on overclocking and I want the best performing socket A heatsink available, regardless of price or noise. I have narrowed my choices down to the pure copper hedgehog, Global Win FOP38, or the Alpha PEP66. Whichever sink I get, it will be mounted with a 38CFM Delta and I will be using Arctic Silver paste. I looked at the reviews at Tom's, and the FOP32 performed the best of the three I mentioned. The Swiftech did the best, but I can't find it anywhere. I am curious why the hedgehog performed so badly in Tom's tests, copper has much better thermal conductivity than aluminum. Anyway, any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Dexion]

I own the Kanie Hedgehog with Y.S tech fan, and I have no idea why it fair so poorly in Tom's test. Despite its weight, its a very effective cooler. Infact, its cooler than my the Alpha PAL 6035. Without it, I doubt that I can effectively overclock my Athlon Tbird. Tom Pabst hasn't done many heatsink tests and if you need something more "accurate" you might want to read HARDOCP or Overclockers.com for info.

The reason why I stressed the "accuracy" is that Socket A thermistor temperatures are incorrect. If you interested, read the link posted below in my sig.

The Delta 38CFM fan is a total screamer! Its not quiet at all, infact it emitts a unbearable hideous whine. I'm already very tolerant to sound, this one was way too much, even loud music wasn't able to dampen it.

 

[Insane3D]

Trust me, I know. I have 2 Delta's on my Vos32 now... It's ok though, my 8.2 Promedia setup tends to drown it out..hehe

 

[Mikewarrior2]

Dexion,

it could be that Tom got a bad-hedgehog(not that I put any faith in his reviwe anyways ).

They are notoriously not well made. Cause the pins are "soldered" in imperfections exist, and sometimes the base isn't even smooth... a combination of these problems could cause performance to drop...

Of course, he could just have not installed it correctly... who knows....


Mike

 

[Insane3D]

Thanks guys, I just ordered the Hedgehog bare sink. I am going to slap a Delta on it and use some arctic silver..should work well.

 

[Dexion]

No prob Insane. What you can do is lap the bottom of the Hedgehog, its rather rough when you first get it, it's a nice shiney surface now. I also don't see any defects with the copper fins which is why its performing so well.

 

[Insane3D]

Thanks Dexion. What grit sandpaper did you use to lap? Did you "wet sand"? I just ordered a KT7A-RAID, so I should be in business soon. All that is left is the 1.2ghz TBird..

 

[JonB]

Keep this in mind about HS materials.

Copper and Silver will definitely conduct heat away from the core better than aluminum. Almost four times better.

But, once the heat is out into the finned area, Aluminum is better at transferring heat to air. It is because Aluminum is lighter and its density is "closer" to that of air.

A silver base with aluminum fins would be optimum. Attaching the two very dissimilar metals is almost impossible.